Choosing Biden means that Obama will have (if he were to win in November) a vice president who is less than a quarter as evil as Cheney, and at least twice as smart. He may be a typical wealthy, white, male senator, but that doesn't automatically make him the wrong choice.

The student voice has proven to be a powerful force for change at the U and must continue to be heard as the U aims to become a climate-neutral campus.

The problem of bike lanes narrowing city streets isn't a large problem in Salt Lake City. With very wide streets, tacking on a bike lane would be much easier here than elsewhere. At the very least, bike lanes will make traffic more convenient and less nerve-racking.

Was the battle for American independence and freedom fought in vain? It was if we neglect to defend the liberties they died for. Those early American heroes certainly didn't give their lives so stray individual opinions could dictate the laws. The U should honor them by including the pledge more often in official forums and other gatherings.

As long as an individual's right to keep and bear arms is protected by our federal government and constitutions, it's wrong to suggest that those who choose to own, possess or carry weapons may not do so in other ways that are at least as legal, responsible and safe as those who choose to carry concealed.

The negative social connotation around nepotism is dissolving. Nepotism is another way to network. The smarter and more effective way to network is to look at the connections you already have.

The minds and imaginations of college students across the country have been captured by Barack Obama. Though the race is almost neck and neck among general voters, a Wallstreet Journal/NBC poll conducted in July shows Obama with a stunning 24 point lead over Sen. John McCain among voters ages 18-34.

Whatever the final decision, the planning committee should poll students to find out what they want. This is a great opportunity to increase student activity on the U's campus. So it would be wise to keep students involved.

If it is time to have the debate about lowering the drinking age, then we should have it. But the call for the debate is coming from the leaders who are supposed to be holding students to a high standard. Instead, they are only lowering the standard and ridding themselves of the liability for the illegal actions going on under their watch.

The U is planning to replace 65,000 feet of hot water piping on campus. The replacement of dated, corroded pipes, expected to cost $30 million and possibly take five years, was only pursued after persistent failures.